Privacy Policy

Handling of personal information

Suzuken views information as an important asset that must be properly safeguarded in much the same way that other business assets are. Under the direction of the Risk Management Department, the Company has in place and is bolstering a Group-wide organizational framework for the management of information. Initiatives in this area include education and awareness-raising activities for employees through e-learning, comprehensive security policies, and other organizational and systemic measures.

Personal information protection policies

Suzuken's basic approach regarding the protection of personal information can be summed up as 'the fair and proper handling of personal information.' The Company makes its views regarding personal information and its handling widely known to medical institutions, NHI pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, business partners, and shareholders, providing the peace of mind these stakeholders need when conducting business with and investing in the Company. Furthermore, while the Company recognizes the potential benefit of its access to personal information in pursuing 'health creation,' one of its key business domains, it also fully acknowledges the risks entailed in the misuse of that same information.

With this knowledge in mind, the Company is actively and boldly confronting the challenge of effectively utilizing personal information to develop the "Health Creation" domain. In so doing, the Company's goal is to become an even more pivotal and trusted name for medical institutions, NHI pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers and other stakeholders. For this reason, Suzuken's fundamental stance is to take all necessary and suitable steps to protect personal information.

1.Collection and use of personal information

The Company collects only the personal information necessary for the sale of pharmaceuticals, diagnostic reagents, and medical equipment and supplies, or the provision of information through medical information systems. The Company clearly states its purposes in collecting this information, which is collected in a fair and appropriate manner. Information collected is utilized only for the purposes stated by the Company.

2.Provision of personal information

In certain instances, the Company may provide personal information to manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment and supplies with whom it conducts business, both to ensure the smooth provision of services to medical institutions and a host of other key clients, and to maintain the safety and improve the quality of medical treatment. In such cases, the Company provides the minimum amount of personal information possible. Having clearly identified the intended recipients of such information, the Company notifies the owner of the personal information, and has measures in place to take appropriate action, including halting provision of the information, depending on whether consent is granted by the owner. In certain instances, however, it may become necessary for the Company to cooperate in providing personal information to law enforcement, courts, and other public institutions in accordance with laws and regulations, particularly in cases regarding the protection of human life or assets.

3.Safe management of personal information

The Company enacts necessary and appropriate security measures to protect the personal information in its possession from loss, leakage, destruction, alteration or other damages.

4.Consignment of personal information

In certain instances, the Company may entrust the handling of personal information to outside parties to ensure the smooth provision of services to medical institutions and a host of other key clients. In such cases, the Company signs contracts with the outsourcer and conducts an inspection of their implementation processes to ensure that the party in question is capable of handling personal information in an appropriate manner.

5.Shared use of personal information

In the event that personal information is to be shared among the Suzuken Group, the Company notifies the owner of the information beforehand regarding certain prescribed aspects of the usage in question, including the scope of the shared usage, the specific information targeted for use, and the purpose behind the usage.

6.Respect for the rights of information owners

The Company respects the rights of the owners of the personal information in its possession, and will respond accordingly to requests from the owner (or an authorized proxy acting at the owner's behest) for the disclosure, revision, deletion, or non-use of their individual personal information.

The Company complies with all relevant laws, regulations and industry-group guidelines regarding the protection of personal information pertaining to its business operations.

8.Notification and announcement of policies concerning the protection of personal information

The Company, in addition to publicizing its Group-wide policies concerning the protection of personal information, also makes public its policies on the protection of personal information as these policies pertain to individual business operations and services. Individual policies are announced on the Company's corporate website, websites through which individual services are offered, in writing, or verbally.

9.Maintaining and improving protection of personal information

To ensure that personal information is properly handled, the Company works extensively to raise awareness among its officers, executives, counselors, regular employees and others affiliated with its operations, and conducts inspections to verify that information is indeed being properly handled. The Company also works to continuously improve its initiatives regarding the protection of personal information through regular and timely reviews.

10.Point of contact regarding personal information

The Company has established the following point of contact for fielding opinions and requests concerning the protection of personal information: